Redd Foxx was a comedic icon whose razor-sharp wit and no-nonsense delivery made him a household name. As the star of Sanford and Son, he brought to life the lovable, cantankerous Fred G. Sanford, whose on-screen feuds with his son Lamont were the stuff of television legend. But in a cruel twist of irony, the laughter and joy he brought to millions of people were starkly contrasted by the chaotic and painful reality of his final years. His sudden death in 1991 from a heart attack on the set of his new sitcom, The Royal Family, was a tragic end. However, the tragedy did not end there. A vicious and highly public battle over his estate and his legacy erupted, pitting his fourth wife against his adopted daughter in a legal and emotional war that made headlines.
The allegations made by his widow, Ka Ho Cho Foxx, against his daughter, Debraca Foxx, were both shocking and heartbreaking, casting a shadow over the legacy of one of comedy’s greatest stars.
The Parties in Conflict
To understand the feud, it’s essential to know the key players.
- Redd Foxx (John Elroy Sanford): The comedic legend and star of stage and screen. At the time of his death, he was married to his fourth wife, Ka Ho Cho, whom he had married in 1989.
- Ka Ho Cho Foxx: A Korean-American woman who was a production assistant on a TV show Redd Foxx starred in. She was his widow at the time of his death and was often referred to in the media as “the fourth wife.”
- Debraca Foxx (Debraca Denise): Redd Foxx’s adopted daughter from his second marriage to Betty Jean Harris. Debraca was a key figure in her father’s life, serving as his personal manager in his final years.
The Allegations Emerge: A Battle for the Estate
In the wake of Redd Foxx’s death, his financial situation was revealed to be a complete mess. Despite his fame and success, he owed a staggering amount of money to the IRS—reportedly over $3.6 million in back taxes, interest, and penalties. His assets, including his home and personal belongings, had been seized by the government to satisfy the debt. This financial chaos created a perfect storm for a family dispute.
Shortly after his passing, Ka Ho Cho Foxx initiated a legal battle against Redd Foxx’s estate and, specifically, against his daughter, Debraca. Ka Ho Cho’s allegations were strong and direct: she claimed that Debraca, as the personal manager, had grossly mismanaged her father’s finances, failed to pay his taxes, and mishandled his assets, leading to the financial ruin that defined his final years.
The allegations were not just about money. According to Ka Ho Cho, Debraca was trying to cut her out of the funeral and estate proceedings. She claimed Debraca was treating her like an outsider, despite being Redd Foxx’s legal wife. Ka Ho Cho sought to gain control of the estate, arguing that Debraca was not only incompetent but also prioritizing her own interests over those of her father’s legal wife.
The Conflict Over a Final Resting Place
The feud reached its most public and heartbreaking point when the two women fought over where Redd Foxx should be buried. Ka Ho Cho wanted him buried in Las Vegas, where they had lived together. Debraca, however, wanted him laid to rest in Los Angeles, where his career had taken off and where many of his friends and colleagues were located. The conflict was so intense that the comedy legend’s body sat in a mortuary for nearly two weeks while the legal battle over his burial raged on.
The dispute over his burial was a powerful symbol of the deeper issues at play. To Ka Ho Cho, burying him in Las Vegas was a way to honor their shared life together. For Debraca, a Los Angeles burial was a fitting tribute to his iconic career and the people who helped make him a star. The bitter fight over his final resting place underscored the deep-seated resentment and mistrust that had been brewing in the family.
The Context of Financial Ruin
To understand the allegations, one must understand the context of Redd Foxx’s life. Despite earning millions, he was notoriously bad with money. He spent lavishly, had a large entourage, and, as his health declined, relied heavily on his inner circle to manage his affairs. The IRS had been hounding him for years, but he reportedly did little to resolve the debt.
The financial mess left in his wake meant there was very little for anyone to inherit. The legal battles over the estate were not about a king’s ransom, but rather about who would have the right to claim the little that was left, including the rights to his image and likeness. The conflict was made worse by a lack of assets to satisfy everyone’s claims.
Debraca Foxx, in her defense, largely remained quiet about the specific allegations but contended that she was doing her best to manage an impossible situation. The financial problems were a result of her father’s decisions over many years, not just a few mismanaged months. She had been tasked with handling a complex and dire situation that would have been challenging for even the most seasoned financial professional.
The Resolution and The Lingering Legacy
After a long and drawn-out legal process, a resolution was eventually reached. The court-appointed an administrator to handle the estate, which helped to temper the conflict between Ka Ho Cho and Debraca. The administrator worked to settle Redd Foxx’s remaining debts and determine what, if anything, would be left for his heirs. The legal battles largely ended without a clear winner, as most of the estate was wiped out by the back taxes. Redd Foxx was eventually buried in Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas, a compromise that honored the wishes of his wife while bringing an end to the very public feud.
The bitter aftermath of Redd Foxx’s death serves as a poignant and cautionary tale. It is a reminder that even the most successful and beloved public figures can have deeply complicated and tragic private lives. The allegations made by his fourth wife against his daughter revealed a painful side to a man who brought so much joy to the world. Ultimately, his legacy is a complex one—of a brilliant comedic genius who struggled with personal and financial demons, and a family whose private pain became a very public spectacle. The laughter he left behind is timeless, but the sad postscript to his life remains a somber and unforgettable chapter in his story.
